New Homebuyer Wonders If Moldy Basement Is Worth The Risk, Backing Out of a Pending Contract
A first-time homebuyer thought they had found a great house in a great neighborhood. There was just one problem waiting downstairs.
“My husband and I are currently under contract with a ranch with a basement,” u/jerseypeach37 wrote on Reddit. “Great neighborhood, great home… except for what seems to be fairly extensive mold in the basement.”
The couple planned to gut-renovate the house, and the buyer said their agent and general contractor seemed relatively unfazed by the problem.
Still, with two children under 2 years of age, they weren’t convinced that moving forward was worth the risk.
Independent Mold Inspection Changes Their Plans
Opinions on Reddit varied. “I cant believe you didnt see that and run immediately,” wrote u/EncrustedBarboach. On the opposite side of the debate, u/ wrote, “For what it’s worth, a friend used to work in mold remediation and she says it’s really nothing to worry about as long as it’s treated properly and the source of moisture is dealt with.”
The couple had the house independently inspected for mold.
That ultimately ended the deal.
“We wound up terminating the contract following an independent mold inspection,” the buyer later added in an update. “It was just too pervasive for us to feel comfortable moving forward.”
The Home Had Sat Vacant Without Air Conditioning
Neither the post nor the update reveals the inspection’s specific findings, so it’s unclear exactly what was discovered or what would have been required to remediate it.
For larger mold problems, however, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends consulting its professional remediation guidance and says homeowners hiring contractors should look for someone with experience cleaning up mold.
The buyer had a theory about what may have contributed to the basement’s condition. According to the buyer, the house was in “an incredibly humid climate” and had sat vacant without air conditioning throughout the summer. As u/jerseypeach37 put it, the situation was “a recipe for disaster.”
Humidity and mold are two peas in a very stuffy pod. The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 60% to discourage mold growth, including through the use of air conditioning and dehumidifiers.
The EPA also specifically urges homeowners to check basements for leaks and other moisture problems before remodeling. Damp basements can promote mold growth, and the underlying moisture problem should be corrected before other renovation work begins.
Getting rid of what’s there isn’t enough; it is important to trace and eliminate whatever is promoting the mold, whenever possible. Indeed, according to the EPA, mold will likely return if it is cleaned up without fixing the moisture source that allowed it to grow.
